The Philadelphia Flyers should consider bringing back this forward.
When looking at the Philadelphia Flyers’ roster, it is fair to argue that they could use a bit more forward depth. Because of this, it would not be the worst idea in the world for them to bring in one more forward before the start of training camp, whether through a cheap one-year deal or professional tryout (PTO).
While most of the notable free agents from this year’s class are off the board, there are still a few interesting players looking for their new homes. One player who Philadelphia should consider taking a shot on is former Flyer Nick Cousins.
Cousins was drafted by the Flyers in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and spent the first three seasons of his career there before being dealt to the Arizona Coyotes. From there, he had stints with the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and most notably, the Florida Panthers.
With the Panthers, Cousins became a strong part of their bottom six. His immensely physical style of play and agitating ability helped him be an impactful depth forward for the Panthers. However, even with this, he still has yet to be signed at this juncture of the offseason.
Nick Cousins
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Cousins had a down year with the Panthers in 2023-24, recording seven goals and eight assists. However, when noting that he had nine goals and 27 points for the Panthers just back in 2022-23, he has the potential to bounce back if given another chance.
Overall, there would be no harm in the Flyers taking a gamble on Cousins with a PTO. If he impressed at training camp and earned a deal, he would offer them another solid bottom-six option, especially considering that he can play both down the middle and on the wing. His gritty style of play could also make him an impactful addition, as his career-high 130 hits last season effectively demonstrated.
Whether it is the Flyers or another NHL club, Cousins should be able to land a deal or PTO in the upcoming weeks.
